Michigan Football: 4-star WR AJ Henning a perfect weapon for Wolverines

Michigan football landed four-star wide out AJ Henning on Wednesday and he is the perfect weapon for the Wolverines’ growing offense.

Jim Harbaugh has been hot on the recruiting trail over the past couple of weeks and landed one of the biggest remaining targets on his board Wednesday in four-star wide out AJ Henning from Frankfort, Ill.

https://twitter.com/AJHenning3/status/1143942565663825921

The Wolverines’ offense was disappointing, in a way, a year ago, ranked 80th in passing yards per game as well as 50th in total yards. That was surprising given the fact that the offense added Shea Patterson and returned Karan Higdon and Chris Evans along with Donovan Peoples-Jones, Tarik Black and Nico Collins at receiver — though the trio was not always healthy.

But there are bigger expectations for 2019 with new offensive coordinator Josh Gattis and a more experienced Patterson with a deadly trio of targets at receiver — plus stud freshman Mike Sainristil.

That slot position has been important for the Wolverines over the years and can arguably turn an average passing attack into a solid one. A good slot receiver can be a quarterback’s best friend and that’s where Henning — and Sainristil — come in to play.

Henning is the No. 80 overall recruit and 16th-best receiver in the 2020 class, according to 247Sports. He’s Illinois’ No. 1-ranked player and picked the Wolverines over the likes of Notre Dame, Georgia, Penn State and Alabama.

The offense will need a boost to help out a new quarterback next season with Patterson graduating and a duo of Sainristil and Henning in the slot with Peoples-Jones, Black and Collins on the outside — assuming they all stay — will be impossible to cover.

Henning brings Michigan’s 2020 class to No. 9 in the nation and gives the Wolverines another much-needed weapon on the offensive side of the ball.